Community Hope Ministries supports individuals looking for rehab services
Editor鈥檚 note: This article is a part of Helping the Helpers, our annual series to raise awareness for nonprofits throughout the area.
For 24 years, Stephanie Workman was lost in addiction.
Seven years ago, she found her way out. Now, she is focused on giving back through Community Hope Ministries, a nonprofit her grandparents established in 2007. The nonprofit started with a simple phone call.
鈥淭here was a guy named Donnie who opened his living room up to addicts. He found when they stopped doing drugs, they didn鈥檛 have friends, they didn鈥檛 have any money, and they needed help,鈥� Workman said. 鈥淗e called my grandparents at 11 p.m. at night, and they came up with a plan.鈥�
The plan includes a partnership with Peniel Residential Drug/Alcohol Treatment Center in Johnstown. It鈥檚 a 13-month, Christian inpatient rehab facility.
Once the treatment is complete, the center offers six months of after-care and connects those in recovery with a local church. Workman, for example, worked with Peniel for 21 months before officially going out on her own.
Unfortunately, many interested in seeking sobriety can鈥檛 afford rehabilitation services, she said, and that鈥檚 where Markleysburg-based Community Hope Ministries comes in.
鈥淭he program typically costs around $1,400 to $1,700 per month, but Peniel gives us a discount. We pay an entrance fee and a monthly fee for each client,鈥� Workman said.
The nonprofit currently has six clients at the rehab facility at a total cost of about $7,000 monthly.
Statistics show, on average, individuals enter treatment four to seven times before achieving long-term sobriety, Workman said. But, she said, 30-day treatment programs have about a 2% success rate, while Peniel鈥檚 13-month program has about a 72% success rate.
鈥淲e鈥檝e supported 19 people in 2024 and 2025 so far. If you need to try again, as long as Peniel will accept you, we won鈥檛 turn anyone down,鈥� Workman said.
During the pandemic, the nonprofit fell dormant for a year or two, but as of November 2023 they鈥檝e been actively operating with their 17-person board of directors.
Part of the challenge the volunteers at Community Hope Ministries face is getting the word out that they are ready to help.
They do their best to remain present in the community, often speaking at churches and businesses in the area. They also give back to the community and host fundraisers throughout the year.
鈥淲e try to do something every month. In August we did a Back to School charity event where we gave away 426 backpacks,鈥� Workman said. 鈥淲e also do bake sales, we host a murder mystery dinner, and we always do something around the holidays to raise funds for our mission.鈥�
There are few who don鈥檛 know someone who鈥檚 been affected by addiction. Workman said she hears stories all the time about the pain it鈥檚 caused.
鈥淲hen we鈥檙e sitting at a booth at a community event, I can鈥檛 tell you how many people stop by and talk about their cousin, their niece. If it鈥檚 not in their immediate family, they know a friend whose son died of an overdose. Addiction truly touches everyone in one way or another,鈥� she said.
Visit https://communityhopeministries.org/ for more information.